Zombie bee infestation has arrived in Vermont

Vermont beekeepers already face extreme temperature swings, as well as the possibility that a colony can collapse, and mite infestations. However, as of last fall a new threat has arrived, and that threat is zombie bees.

According to Online Sentinel, Anthony Cantrell, a beekeeper from Burlington, said that he discovered zombie bees in his hive back in October. This was the first time that the bees have been found in the eastern United States.

According to Fox, John Hafernik, a professor at San Francisco State University, first discovered the zombie bee in 2008. Hafernik said that a fly called the Apocephalus borealis will attach itself to a bee, and then its eggs will be injected into it. The eggs will then grow inside the bee. Scientists think that this ends up causing neurological damage, which results in jerky movement and night activity.

Hafernil said that the bees are not undead, and they usually die after a few hours after they start to show symptoms.

According to KSDK, Stephen Parise, a Vermont Agricultural Production Specialist, said that right now they are not sure if Cantrell's bees is an isolated incident.

The state's Agency of Agriculture is hoping that they can investigate the threat by using trapping.